Agitator for washing machines



Oct 16, 1928.

A. W. ALTORFER AGITATOR FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed June l5, 1927 IKYEH'ICIR.

FEE-

r-r'i's Patented Oct. 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,688,001 PATENT OFFICE.

ALPHEUS W. ALTORFER, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ALTORFER BROS. COM- PANY, OF EAST PEORIA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

AGITA'IOR FOR WASHING MACHINES.

Application filed June 15, 1327. Serial No. 198,907.

This invention has reference to certain new and useful improvements in agitators, such for instance as are usable in connection with washing machines for the purpose of alternately agitating clothes and other materials during the washing action.

One of the objects of the present invention is to cast the agitator in one piece and to form it with a central hub from which radiate a plurality of hollow agitating wings or vanes having a cone-like formation in cross-section and terminating in a peripheral ring at their outer ends and at their inner ends terminating in an underlying cone, whereby the upper surface of the agitator between such wings or vanes. slopes downwardly and outwardly toward the periphery of the agitator.

A further object of the invention is to construct the agitator with a plurality of agitating wings or vanes, and a periphery comprising an annular depending flange and a horizontally disposed flange; the two such flanges cooperating, when the agitator is in operative position in a washing tub, to prevent articles, such as buttons, or lint or other refuse working beneath the agitator, and also prevent clothes and other materials working therebeneath and becoming damaged.

In the carrying out of the invention I prefer to construct the bottom of the washing tub with an annular groove complementary to and in which the depending annular flange of the agitator has alternate rotary movement.

That the invention may be more fully understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this description, illustrating a. preferred embodiment of the invention, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved agitator, partly broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1, partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section as the same would appear if taken on the line 3-3 Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail showing the doaction between the flanges of the agitator and the grooved portion of the bottom of the tub.

Like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throu bout the figures.

As previously state the agitator 1s preferably cast hollow in one piece and rovided with a central hub and a plurality o radially disposed agitating wings orvanes. As disclosed, the h b i d g a e 1 Whlch p e erably terminates at its upper end slightly above the plane of the highest point of the wings or vanes 2 and atits lower end well within the depth of the agitator and just above the lower edge of its annular flange, see Fig. 2, which gives the hub a suflicient length for connection with an axially disposed sleeve 3, the lower end of which has a pressed fit to and within the hub 1. Said sleeve 3 extends a suitable distance above the agitator body for a bearing connection with a stem, not shown, disposed axially and upstanding within a washing tub, not shown, from and by means of which alternate rotary movement is imparted to said agitator. The upper portion of said sleeve 3 is swaged as at 4, providing the reduced annular extension 5 in which is preferably pressed a bushing 6,'formed or provided with the plurality of grooves 7 to adapt it for a sliding clutch connection with a corresponding member of an operating part, not shown.

The agitating wings or vanes 2, of which there are preferably six, radiate from the hub 1 and terminate at their outer ends in a depending annular flange 8 and a horizontally disposed flange 9', the latter being preferably positioned at the base of said wings or vanes, or at the intersection of the two said flanges. Said wings or vanes are hollow and in vertical cross-section have somewhat the apearance of a cone, arcuate at their upper surfaces and throughout their length, as at 10, and with arcuate connecting portions, as at 11, between the sides of said wings or vanes and the base portion 12 of said agitator. The inner underlying portions of the several wings or vanes terminate in a cone-like portion 12, with the hub 1, which, presents an overlying surface on the base of said agitator which slopes downwardly and outwardly from the hub 1, as at 13 see Figs. 1 and 2. The arcuate surface 10 of each wing extends vertically for a desired distance from the inner end of the flange 9 and is then turned over and inwardly and inclined slightly downwardly to a point removed a short distance from the hub, where such arcuate portions are turned upwardly and inwardly uniting in sloping surfaces with the hub 1. .All such curved surfaces of the wings and body portion of the agitator facilitates the easy' manipulation of the agitator inthe water and action upon clothes and fine fabrics with out dangeiiof tearing or otherwi e d m gm tom 14 of a tub, not shown, as being provided I with a depending annular groove 15. When the agitator is in operative position in a tub the depending annular flange 8 lies within and is adapted to have alternate rotatlve movement in said groove, with the horizontal flange 9 overlying the bottom 14 next adj acent the outside wall of said'groove. Such an arrangement will effectively prevent buttons or like articles and other refuse matter which may become detached or separated from clothes or other material lodging under the agitator and interfering with the operation of the same; and likewise clothing and other materials are prevented from working under the agitator and becoming torn or damaged.

An agitator having six wings or vanes, such as I have shown, has considerable advantage over agitators provided with a less number, as for instance three or four, as has been a common practice in agitators of this character. In the first place the body of the water between such wings or vanes is divided into a greater number of small bodies and is thereby much more easily manipulated through the agitation of the agitator, and in the second place such number of wings or vanes will permit a greater circumferential movement of the agitator, during each alternate movement and thereby as good or even better agitation than is obtained by short and quick alternate movements of an agitator with a less number of wings or vanes. Such latter movement produces a' greater vibration of the machine, in part if not wholly obviated ina machine employing an agitator of my construction. It is well known that a con tinuous rotation of an agitator, in one direction, will in part if not entirely do away with vibration, but is objectionable due to the wrzkpping of clothes or other materials and ine ective washing, so to obviate this and obtain the efliciency of operation desirable in these machines, I have provided the six wings or vanes and am thereby permitted to rotate the agitator alternately in opposite directions, by rotating the agitator approximately one complete rotation before reversing the rotation of the same. Alternate movement being thereby considerably reduced vibration is effectively obviated.

What I claim is 1. An agitator for washing machines comprising a disc-like member cast in one piece and formed with a central hub, and a plurality of hollow radially arranged wings conelike in vertical cross-section throughout their length upstanding from the base of said member; the upper end'of said hub terminating at a point slightly above the plane of the highest point of the wings with the greater portion of said hub well within the agitator and, terminating immediately above the base thereof; the upper surfaces of said wings being arcuate in shape inclined downwardly and inwardly and upwardly into the upper end of said hub, and the inner underlying portions of saidwings forming a cone whereby to produce a downwardly and outwardly sloping outer surface from the hub between said wings.

2. An agitator for washing machines hav ing a base portion provided with a depend ing annular flange and a horizontally project'- ing flange merging into and forming part'of said depending flange at a point removed slightly above the lower edge of said depending flange.

3. An agitator for washing machines com prising a disc-like member cast in one piece and formed with a central hub and a plurality of hollow radially arranged wings, the greater body portion of said hub disposed substantially wholly within the agitator and terminating thereabove at a pointslightly above the plane of the wings, a driving connection for said hub comprising an elongated sleeve havlng a pressed-1n fit at one end in said hub, and a grooved bushing having a pressed-in connection with the opposite end of said sleeve.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto aflixed my hand this 4th day of June, 1927,

, -ALPHEUS W. ALTORFER 

